Jasper was just Natalie’s pretty boy-toy and he in turn delegated all of his work to the plant department supervisors. He was certainly not the crim...nal mastermind we were looking for, but he could have been a useful tool. He certainly had maintenance access to the ill-fated prototype jet crash that claimed Don’s and two other lives. Rachel Thompson was a well-preserved and quite attractive lady about in her late 30’s, like me. She was the long-time Executive Secretary and had been with the. In 2290 or as close as anyone can guess, life on earth stopped. It was hoped by the Council that the planet had recovered. It hasn't ... doesn't look like it will ... ever. Come on up here and let me show you."I stepped around the huffers and climbed up on the throne platform. A set of shutters opened on a scene of near blasphemy.The sky was a roiling yellow greenish purple and that was it. No grass, trees or creatures. There was a violent wind but the colors didn't mix."Your world governments. How's Shirl?" She's fine. She's in Brisbane. Her boss in The Alice got her a fellowship and she got a Diploma in Plant Protection. Now she's finishing her doctorate in Agricultural Science." That's a smart girl." Yep. Those post-graduate programmes run around twenty thousand a year, and she hasn't cost us anything." But that's not why you called." No. There's a guy who's looking to buy some acreage down here and I was at a meeting with him yesterday. Anyway, all of a sudden he's layin' into the. “Son.”Mother’s voice was almost lost in the vast open gallery. Half-hidden within the dim light inside, she stood with her hands held together, posed in the midst of her creation.Through the transparent walls of the tower’s rotunda, I could see lights coming on throughout the city in response to the deepening dusk. We stood apart for a long moment, looking at each other across the distance.My steps had no echo, as if the gallery floor was covered in a blanket of fresh snow. As I came closer, I.